Apparatus for converting bundles of continuous filaments into a sliver or roving of staple fiber



Nov. 28, 1950 Filed March 13, 1946 c. RHODES ETAL 2,531,787

APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING BUNDLES 0F CONTINUOUS FILIYEENTS INTO A SLIVER OR ROVING 0F STAPLE FIBER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 zg. l

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APPARATUS Foa coNvER'rING BUNDLES oF CONTINUOUS FILANENTS INT0 A SLIvER 0R RovING oF sTAPLE FIBER Filed Harsh 15, 194s s sheets-sheet s XW ATTORNEY 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 mvgNToRs:

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APPARATUS Fok coNvER'rING BUNDLES oF CONTINUOUS FILAMENTS INT0 A SLIVER 0R ROVING OFSTAPLE FIBER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 13, 1946 I NV ENTO RS:

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Patented Nov. 28, 1950 APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING BUNDLES OF CONTINUOUS FILAMENTS INTO A SLIVER OR ROVING OF STAPLE FIBER Cecil Rhodes and Isaac Neill McCart, Aberdovey,

Wales; said McCart assigner to said Rhodes Application' March 13, 1946, Serial No. 654,082 In Great Britain March 21, 1945 8 Claims.

This invention relates to the production of a sliver or roving from bundles of continuous filaments by cutting the latter into staple fibre.

The sliver or roving formed by this process can be converted subsequently into yarn by the usual methods of drawing, drafting and spinning.

As above and hereinafter employed. the expression bundles of continuous fllamentsfdenotes a band. tow or rope of such filaments assembled together substantially without twist and in parallel relationship. whilst the term staple fibre ls used to describe the product resulting from the cutting of the bundles aforesaid into predetermined staple lengths.`

The primary object of this invention is to provide a process and apparatus for the making of a sliver or roving preferably from super-fine filaments such as 11/2 denier or liner denier. Owing to the delicate and gossamer-like nature of these super-fine filaments. the production of a sliver or roving possessing the necessary qualities for use in fine-count yarns presents diillcultieshitherto considered almost insuperable. Any processes which tend to crush the filaments when they are being cut, or tear the `:filaments by a breaking action, are liable to engender such imperfections in the sliver or roving that costly operations, such as combing. have to be resorted to, in order to rectify the defects which have been created, and furthermore lt has been found that pins, such as are used in Gillboxes create neps which are the cause of endless trouble.

The present invention comprises a process and apparatus which is designed to overcome these obstacles, the filaments during the whole of the' operations being subjected to a gentle but firm control.

The invention comprises the method of producing a sliver or roving of staple fibre from e, bundle of continuous filaments, wherein successive lengths of the bundle are fed and laid in spread condition on to a suitable surface, each such length being severed while held at one end to such surface, and wherein the latter is moved in timed relation to the feeding and laying of the spread bundle, so that the cut lengths thereof are lapped together for the formation of the re' Iquired thickness of sliver or roving.

The improved method may be characterised in that the new end of the spread bundle of iliaments is held on to the preceding length at aV position which is set back with reference to the previously held end of such length, or further characterised in that the spread bundle is fed through a traversing reciprocating feed for the laying of each length, and the advancement of the newl end of the spread bundle is held while the previous length is carried forward to provide the required overlap.

According to the invention, apparatus for producing a sliver or roving of staple libre from a bundle of continuous filaments comprises means for periodically holding the bundle in spread condition upon a suitable surface, means for laying a length of the spread filaments upon said surface each time the holding means are operative, means for severing each length after-laying, and means for progressively advancing said surface in timed relation with the operation of' said holding and laying means so that the various lengths are laid in overlapping relationship.

The apparatus may be characterised by means. for holding the new end onto the preceding length at a position which is set back with reference to the previously held end of such length, and mayinclude a reciprocating traverse feed carriage for the end of the bundle and a conveyor or belt for receiving the overlapping lengths of which the sliver or roving is built up.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanyr ing drawings, wherein Figs. 1 and 2 are a side elevation and plan view, respectively. of one form of apparatus according to the present invention, and showing a spread bundle of laments being fed in;

Figs. 3 and 4 are views corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2, respectively, and illustrate the apparatus with the parts thereof in the positions occupled immediately after the severing of e, length of the spread bundle.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic end elevation of the means provided for spreading the bundle of ille.- ments;

Figs. 6 and 7 are, respectively, an enlarged side elevation and `plan view of the filament severing means indicated in Figs. 1 to 4.

In the construction illustrated a bundle of continuous illaments l0 is fed downwardly between rollers and the filaments are then spread fanwise by means of a rotary brush or brushes which have the effect of gently separating the various filaments, such separation being essential in order to obtain, at a later stage of the process. the

requisite aerated and coherent mass. of staple libres.

A convenient arrangement oi' spreading means is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 5, there being in this case two rotary brushesI each of which comprises an endless leather belt i2 having bristles il on its outer me. 'me twa bein l2 pass over a double-conical or waisted upper pulley I4 and separate lower pulleys I 5 which are spaced apart so that the operative runs of the belts are downwardly divergent and thus tend to spread the filaments fanwise as indicated at Il, as the bristles I3 engage the original bundle of filaments I0. If necessary, a third belt I6 may operate in the space between the divergent runs of the belts I2, so as to support the central filaments, the various belts preferably being cleared of fibres by means of a vibrating comb where they pass over the lower pulleys.

'I'he bundles III of continuous filaments, now in an open formation, pass downwards to a pair of feed rollers I1 at least one of which is positively driven as hereinafter more fully described, and which are associated with spindles I8 revolving in dependant brackets I9 fixed to opposite sides of an overhead carriage 20 mounted for reciprocation on the frame 2I of the machine.

The overhead carriage 20, preferably working on roller bearings, travels predetermined distances backward and forward and these distances regulate the length of the staple fibre to be cut. One of the feed roller spindles I8 carries pinions 22 engaging with racks 23 which are fixed to the sides of the frame 2I, and is driven from such pinions 22 through the medium of spring-loaded ratchet clutch members 24 when the overhead carriage 20 is on its outward or filament laying journey.

To describe the working of the machine we shall assume the overhead carriage 20 to be in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2; i. e., that it has just completed its forward journey. Immediately the overhead carriage 2U commences to lmove on its outward journey the drive applied to the feed rollers I1 causes them to deliver the spread ends of the filament bundles I downwardly on to an endless belt 25 or the like, which is situated underneath and in close proximity to the feed rollers I1.

An inter-related movement is so arranged that the ends of the bundles Ill are immediately pressed against the belt 25 by a holding device 26. The travel, pressure and synchronization of this device 26 is adjustable so that the spread filaments II are gripped immediately a sumcient length thereof is fed down by the rollers I1.

Conveniently the holding device comprises a foot`21 which extends transversely of the upper run of the belt 25 and which is provided with upstanding inclined arms 28 slotted longitudinally to receive a stationary cross-bar 29. The upper extremities of the arms 28 are connected to cranks 30 on a rock-shaft 3i, which is mounted on the frame and oscillated by suitable mechanism to raise or lower the foot 21 in accordance with the movement of the carriage 20. The carriage 20 on its outward journey travels away from the holding device 26, while the feed rollers 21 continue the delivery of the continuous filaments II, which, their free ends being held by the foot 21, are consequently drawn longitudinally of the belt 25. When the carriage 20 has travelled the requisite distance (see Figs. 3 and 4), a spring-loaded rotary knife 32 is released automatically and moving at a high speed across the filaments II severs the latter against an inclined cutting Yedge 33, which is mounted between the brackets I9 below the rollers I1, thus forming the staple fibre. `The movement of the knife 32 across the filaments lays the staple fibre upon the belt 25, with a sweeping motion.

` ited angular movement upon a vertical spindle 38 which rotates in brackets 31 at one corner of the frame 2| (see particularly Figs. 6 and '1) the angular travel of the sleeve 35 relatively to the spindle being determined by engagement of a peg 38 on the latter with the ends of a. circumferential slot 39 in the sleeve.

The lower end of the spindle 38 is driven .through bevel gears 40, 4I from some suitable source of power, the driven member of the gearing being connected to the adjacent end of the sleeve through the medium of a helical torsion spring 42 which embraces the spindle 38.

As the spindle rotates, the sleeve 35 is restrained by engagement of the arm 34 with a spring-controlled detent 43 on the plate 44, so that the spring 42 is stressed while the peg 33 travels along the slot 39 which may extend approximately half-way around the sleeve 35.

On the peg 38 reaching the opposite er I of the slot 39, the sleeve becomes positively driven and the arm 34 overrides the detent 43, with the result that the lost motion between spindle and sleeve is violently taken up under the influence of the stressed spring 42, thus producing the requisite rapid sweep of the knife 32 across the filaments II.

The filaments I I are severed at an angle to the line' of travel of the carriage 20, which angle is controlled by the position of the cutting edge 33, it having been found that, by cutting the filaments obliquely, the sliver or roving ultimately produced can be drawn and drafted more efl'ectively than if the cutting were at right angles to the line of travel of the carriage 23.

After each staple has been cut, the endless belt 25 or its equivalent is caused to travel a definite distance in the direction of the return or forward movement of the carriage 20, the holding device` 26 being automatically raised at the completion of such forward movement and subsequently lowered to press the new ends of the spread bundles I0 upon the belt 25 and the preceding length of filaments Ii at a position which is set back somewhat with reference to the previously held end of such length. y

In this way successively cut staples are laid one upon another with a predetermined overlap, which latter is selected in accordance with the denier of the filaments I I to suit the thickness of the sliver or roving to be produced.

The sliver or roving formed as above described is taken off the endless belt 25 and then preferably drawn by suitable rollers through a trumpet mouth-piece which delivers it to a coller can or on to any suitable bobbin or other container.

It will be seen that the essential characteristics of this process and apparatus are its gentle action and perfect control of the filaments II during the whole of the operations.

The invention is not limited to all the details of the example above described; for instance, the carriage 2u may be arranged for double action, so' as to lay successive lengths'in opposite directions, it being necessary, of course, in such a case to duplicate the cutting and holding motions. The lapping may also be arrangedso that the overlapped end passes the preceding end for the take off of the sliver or roving lin the opposite direction.

We declare that what we claim is:

l. Apparatus for producing a sliver or roving of staple lfibre from a bundle of continuous filaments, comprising a stationary frame, a conveyor for the staple fibre associated with said frame, a carriage reciprocable longitudinally of said frame above said conveyor, feed rollers carried by said carriage, gearing between said feed rollers and said frame for causing rotation of the rollers during movement of the carriage in one direction thereby to feed and lay on to said conveyor a bundle of continuous filaments in spread condition, means carried by said frame for holding-the end of said bundle upon said conveyor during the laying of the filaments thereon, means for severing the laid length of filaments prior to the return movement of said carriage, said gearing including means for rendering said feed rollers inoperative during such return movement, means for releasing said holding means during the return movement of the carriage, said conveyor being capable of advancement longitudinally of said frame during such return movement of said carriage so that each length of filaments is laid on said conveyor in overlapping relation with the preceding length.

2. Apparatus for producing a sliver or roving of staple fibre from a bundle of continuous filaments, comprising a stationary frame, a conveyor for the staple fibre associated with said frame, a carriage reciprocable longitudinally of said frame above said conveyor, feed rollers carried by said carriage, gearing between said feed rollers and said frame for causing rotation of the rollers during movement of the carriage in one directionthereby to feed and lay on to said conveyor a bundle of continuous filaments in spread condition, means carried by said frame for holding the end of said bundle upon said conveyor during the laying of the filaments thereon, means for severing the laid length of filaments prior to the return movement of said carriage, said gearing including means for rendering said feed rollers inoperative during such return movement, means for releasing said holding means during the return movement of the carriage, said conveyor being capable of advancement longitudinally of said frame during, and in the same direction as, such return movement of said carriage so that each length of filaments laid is held upon the preceding length at a. position which is set back with reference to the previously-held end of such length.

3. Apparatus for producing a sliver or roving of staple fibre from a bundle of continuous filaments, comprising a stationary frame, a conveyor for the staple libre associated with said frame, a carriage reciprocable longitudinally of said frame above said conveyor, feed rollers carried by said carriage, gearing between said feed rollers and said frame for causing rotation of the rollers during movement of the carriage in one direction thereby to feed and lay on to said conveyor a bundle of continuous filaments in spread condition, means carried by said frame for engaging the end of said bundle as it issues from said feed rollers and holding such end upon said conveyor during the laying of the filaments thereon, means for severing the laid length of filaments prior to the return movement of said carriage,

said gearing including clutch mechanism releasable at the beginning of the return movement of the carriage thereby to render said feed rollers inoperative during such return movement, means for releasing said holding means during the return movement of the carriage, said conveyor being capable of advancement longitudinally of said frame during such return movement oi.' said carriage so that each length of filaments is laid on said conveyor in overlapping relation with the preceding length. 4

4. Apparatus for producing a sliver or roving of staple fibre from a bundle of continuous lila'- ments, comprising a stationary frame, a conveyor for the staple fibre associated with 4said frame, a carriage reciprocable longitudinally of said frame above said conveyor, feed rollers carried by said carriage, rack-and-pinion mechanism between said feed rollers and frame for driving said rollers during movement of saidl carriage in one direction so that a bundle of continuous filaments in spread condition is laid upon prior to the return movement of said carriage,

one-way drive means incorporated in said rackand-pinion mechanism for disabling said feed roLlers during such return movement of the carriage, means for releasing said holding means at the start of such return movement, said conveyor being capable of advancement longitudinally of said frame during such return movement of said carriage so that each length of filaments is laid on said conveyor in overlapping relation.

with the preceding length.

ments, comprising a stationary frame, a conveyor for the staple fibre associated withsaidf frame; a carriage reciprocable longitudinally of said frame above said conveyor, feed rollers carried by said carriage, cooperating means carried by the feed rollers and frame for imparting rotation to the rollers during movement of the carriage in one direction to feed and lay on to said conveyor a bundle of continuous filaments in spread condition, means carried by said frame for holding the end of said bundle upon said conveyor during the laying of the filaments thereon, a cutting edge mounted on said carriage below said rollers, a knife rotating in a fixed orbit for severing the laid length of filaments against said cutting edge prior to the return movement of said carriage, means for disabling said feed rollers at the beginning of the return movement of the carriage and means for releasing said holding means during such return movement, said conveyor being capable of advancement longitudinally of said frame during such return movement of said carriage so that each length of filaments is laid on said conveyor in overlapping relation with the preceding length.

6. Apparatus for producing a sliver or roving of staple fibre from a bundle of continuous filaments, comprising a stationary frame, a conveyor for the staple fibre associated with. said frame, a carriage reciprocable longitudinally of said frame above said conveyor, feed rollers carried by said carriage, cooperating means carried by the feed rollers and frame for imparting rotation to the rollers during movement of the carriage in one direction to feed and lay on to said conveyor a bundle of continuous filaments spams? in spread condition, means carried by said frame i'or holding the end of said bundle upon said conveyor during the laying of the filaments thereon, a cutting edge mounted on said carriage below said rollers, a knife rotatable in a fixed orbit embracing the path of said carriage, driving means for said knife, a spring-loaded lost-motion connection between said knife and its driving means, means for automatically holding and then releasing said knife whereby the latter is caused to rapidly sever the laid length of filament against said cutting edge under the influence of its springloading prior to the return movement of said carriage, means for disabling said feed rollers and means for releasing said holding means during such return movement, said conveyor being capable of advancement longitudinally of said frame during such return movement of said carriage so that each length of iilaments is laid on said conveyor in overlapping relation with the preceding length.

'7. Apparatus'for producing a sliver or roving of staple bre from a bundle of continuous filaments, comprising a stationary frame, a conveyor for the staple fibre associated with said frame, a carriage reciprocable longitudinally of said frame above said conveyor, a rotary brush adapted to effect lateral spreading of the filaments, feed rollers carried by said carriage, means for imparting rotation to said feed rollers during movement of the carriage in one direction to feed and lay the spread filaments on to said conveyor, means carried by said frame for holding the end of said bundle upon said conveyor during the laying of the filaments thereon, means for severing the laid length of filaments prior to the return movement of said carriage, means for disabling said feed rollers and means for releasing said holding means during such return movement, said conveyor being capable of advancement lonL gitudinally of said frame during such return movement of said carriage so that each length of filaments is laid on said conveyor in overlapping relation with the preceding length.

8. Apparatus for producing a sliver or roving of staple nbre from a bundle of continuous filaments, comprising a stationary frame, a conveyor for the staple nbre associated with said frame, a carriage reciprocable longitudinally of said frame above said conveyor, means for delivering a bundle of continuous filaments, a plurality of bristled belts disposed in position to engage such bundle. and mutually divergent in the direction of delivery thereoi' so as to spread the illaments laterally, feed rollers carried by said carriage, means for imparting rotation to said rollers during movement of the carriage in one direction to feed and lay the spread fl amants on to said conveyor, means carried by sai frame for holding the end of said bundle upon said conveyor during the laying of the filaments thereon, means for severing the laid length of filaments prior to the retu`m movement of said carriage, means for disabling said feed rollers, and means for releasing said holding means during such return movement, said conveyor being capable of advancement longitudinally of said frame during such return movement of said carriage so that each length of illamentsis laid on said conveyoi' in overlapping relation with the preceding length.

CECIL RHODES. ISAAC NEILL MCCART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

